Washington State Military Department 1/31/2024

DHS-FEMA-EMPG-FY23 Page 38 of 44 Everett, E24-278 Attachment D WORK PLAN FY 2023 Emergency Management Performance Grant Emergency Management Organization: Everett Office of Emergency Management The purpose of EMPG is to assist with the enhancement, sustainment and improvement of state, local, and tribal emergency management programs. Activities conducted using EMPG funding should relate directly to the five mission areas of the national preparedness goal of prevention, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. Washington State does not require a specific number of activities to receive EMPG funding. However, there are required capabilities that must be sustained in order to remain eligible for EMPG funding, including but not limited to the ability to communicate and warn, educate the public, plan, train, exercise, and be NIMS compliant. The Work Plan delineates the Emergency Management Organization's emergency management program planning and priority focus for this grant cycle (to include EMPG grant and local funds). Priority Area-Sustainment Ricoh Copier and Usage Priority Area #1 4.8 Communications and Warning Primary Core Capability Public Information and Warning Secondary Core Capability Operational Communications Build or Sustain Building WORK PLANNED IDENTIFIED GAP/NEED ANTICIPATED PROJECT IMPACT Utilize, update guidance on, train on, and exercise public emergency information dissemination on Everett's alerting platforms, including internal notifications, reverse 911, public alerts through IPAWS, and city website alerts. Per the City's CEMP, we have a responsibility to communicate emergency information to the public. Alerts and warnings should be accessible to the whole community including LEP individuals and others who may be more vulnerable. Further updates to communications plans can increase efficacy of emergency information dissemination. Everett uses the AlertSense platform (which also includes IPAWS) and our office is the point of contact for City departments which utilize this system for technical assistance and training. By updating guidance on emergency public information, key City staff will have better access and better guidance on how to communicate information to the affected individuals. Enhance emergency communications between City facilities by setting up amateur radio and satellite phone equipment. In a major disaster, the ability to communicate may be hindered if normal modes of communication are not available. Currently, many City facilities do not have a back up method of communication if phones, cell phones, and email are not functioning. City facilities need to be able to communicate to ensure they can continue to share information and provide or receive direction. The City CEMP outlines operational communications. Adding amateur radio and satellite phone capabilities to City facilities will enable them to continue to communicate even if traditional methods are inoperable. This will improve situational awareness and information sharing after a major event.